Summary Of The Book 'A Feminist Companion To Paul'

In Galatians 3:28, Paul’s states that there is no male and female but rather oneness in the Risen Christ. This may suggests that, in Christ through salvation male and female are equal. One could argue that this proposes a positive attitude towards women. However in 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 there is an impression that women are being suppressed as Paul states that women in the assemblies should be silent. This not only contradicts what Paul says in Galatians 3:28 but also in1 Corinthians 11: 2-16. Consequently one must explore what Paul may have meant by female and male. According to the publication of Wayne meek’s landmark (as stated in the book, A Feminist Companion to Paul as edited by Amy-Jill Levine) that male and female referred to an image of androgyny. A further explanation regarding male and female as an image of androgyny is given in the book, A Feminist Companion to Paul, by referencing Philo of Alexander on Primal androgyny. In the book it is stated that the image of androgyny is derived from the two different creation stories found in Genesis 1 and 2. There is emphasis that the first …show more content…
For instance the church could have used Paul’s words that speak negatively about women to argue the point of not allowing there to be female deacons, priest or pastors and on the other hand leave out the verses or words in Paul’s letters that support women as deacons/ priests or that portrays them in a good light. One could even use Paul’s words to justify a patriotic way of life, for instance, those belonging to the Victorian ages could have supported their arguments that women had to be submissive, listen, give themselves to their husbands or staying quiet in social events as well as not voicing their opinion in the company of men or at all with Paul’s